Total Calcium, Ca, Calcium, Total Ca2+
24 hours
Colorimetric
Accredited NRL Laboratory
Daily
Plasma calcium measurement is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of a wide range of disorders including diseases of bone, kidney, the parathyroid gland or gastrointestinal tract. Calcium results in isolation are of limited value and interpretation can be enhanced by correlating with other markers including phosphate, PTH and Vitamin D.
Results are reported in conventional units (mg/dL)
Serum or Plasma
0.5 mL
Serum (SST; Gold Top or plain serum; Red Top) - Preferred Lithium Heparin Plasma (Green Top) - acceptable
No special preparation is required for this test. You may eat, drink, and take your medications as normal, unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider.
This test does not require any special collection or pre-analytical handling. Follow routine specimen collection protocols.
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 3 weeks at 2-8°C |
| Frozen | 8 months at -20°C |